5 Least Known Health Benefits of Cinnamon

A spice that’s probably been in your pantry forever but with health benefits you wouldn’t imagine – that’s cinnamon for you. Cinnamon may not be as exotic or integral to traditional medicines as, say, turmeric. But it has been tapped in home remedies and naturopathy and is being studied for its far-ranging benefits – for everything from cardiovascular health and diabetes to acne and yeast infections!

Researchers use both cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum) as well as true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) or Ceylon cinnamon in their studies. In some studies, the type of cinnamon used is unspecified, in which case you should be able to go with either. Both varieties have health benefits but what follows should offer some guidance based on your requirements and medical history.

# Moderates Blood Sugar Levels And Reduces Insulin Resistance

One of cinnamon’s claims to fame is that it is a wonder spice of sorts for diabetics, helping on multiple fronts. It can moderate blood sugar levels, reduce insulin resistance, and help ease diabetes-related problems like hyperlipidemia.1 Taking cinnamon can show results in as little as 40 days, as one study revealed. Diabetic test subjects took between 1 and 6 gm of cinnamon daily and saw their mean fasting serum glucose levels drop by between 18 and 29 percent.

Most studies have explored the effect of cassia cinnamon. It is believed to have a synergistic effect, enhancing the effectiveness of insulin in the body. Its therapeutic effect can help bring down fasting blood glucose levels anywhere from 10 to 29 percent, as per some researchers.

# Lowers Cholesterol And Has Cardiovascular Benefits

Cinnamon can work its magic on your heart in a relatively short time. In one instance, when test subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease took 1500 mg of cinnamon extract every day for just 12 weeks, their triglyceride and total cholesterol numbers both improved.

The cinnamaldehyde in its bark improves lipid metabolism. This helps you fight not just metabolic disorders but also inflammation-induced obesity.

# Reduces Blood Pressure Due To Dilating Action Of Cinnamaldehyde

If you’re grappling with a high blood pressure problem, a hint of cinnamon in your diet may ease the problem. That’s because the cinnamaldehyde in the spice causes blood vessels to dilate, which in turn helps lower your blood pressure. True cinnamon and cassia have been explored for these effects and shown promise. That said, an abundance of animal studies exist while further investigation may be needed to confirm effectiveness in humans.

# Cuts Inflammation And Fights Inflammatory Disease

Cinnamon helps cut inflammation in the body courtesy its abundance of flavonoid compounds – and the spice has many. Quercetin, gnaphalium, oroxindin, hypolaetin, hesperidin, gossypin, and hibifolin in cinnamon lend it its many anti-inflammatory properties. These have piqued the interest of the research and medical community. Cinnamon is being studied for its possible applications in neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s, where inflammatory processes have been implicated in the progress of the disease.

# Tackles Bacterial, Fungal, And Viral Infections

The antimicrobial properties of cinnamon can be tapped to overcome infections. True cinnamon, in particular, has medicinal benefits owing to its antiparasitic, antibacterial, and antiviral activity.

The vapors of the essential oil of cinnamon combined with clove have been found to be effective against common offenders like Salmonella choleraesuis and Escherichia coli that cause digestive infections and the notorious Staphylococcus aureus that is responsible for staph infections. Cinnamon’s antifungal properties come in handy when you’re trying to beat a yeast or bladder infection.